Since I took as many photos as I did when visiting my two favourite museums in Glasgow for my Ultimate Guide to Glasgow blog post. I thought that I would dedicate a full blog post to how I spent the day at Riverside Museum and Kelvingrove Art Gallery. And I thought that it would be interesting to show you how I'd spend a rainy day in the city. So here are some of my top rainy day activities in Glasgow;
As I already mentioned in that previous blog post, my two favourite museums in Glasgow have to be Riverside and Kelvingrove. They have so many great memories and feature exhibitions that I'm particularly interested in. All of these museums are completely free to visit. Making them a great place to head to when you're not sure what to do one day. Or if you want to escape from the notoriously changeable Glasgow weather.
When I visit, I like to break each museum down by section. But let's start at Riverside first;
The reason that I have such fond feelings towards Riverside is the fact that during my childhood my Dad would routinely take me and my brother to the Transport Museum. As it was then. We would often visit several times a week during the school holidays. And even though many of the exhibits moved to Riverside and many more have been added. It still conjures up those nostalgic childhood memories for me.
My absolute favourite part of Riverside has to be the three streets which span the 1890's to the 1980's. Not only are they a beautiful sight to see. But you can actually enter many of the shops, cafes and even the Subway to explore and learn more. You actually feel like you've been transported back in time. And it's quite a contrast to the Glasgow we know and love today.
For example, the Glasgow Subway now looks rather space age at many of it's stations, as you will have seen in my Ultimate guide to Glasgow. So to see how it started out takes you on quite the journey.
I also love the little details such as this cat trying to get to this pigeon.
Fans of any kind of transportation will be in awe of some of the displays and collections at Riverside. I mean just look at how they've been showcased! The car wall is another highlight and unmissable sight. It's one of those museums where there is something to look at in every direction and this even means from above, as seen here. There's also lots of great vantage points to see everything from, which is particularly helpful on days when it's slightly busier.
But you don't have to be a car, bike, bus or ship fanatic to enjoy Riverside. Some of my favourite pieces are the fashions from days past. I mean, how stunning are those dresses?!
I do find that Riverside tends to get busier as the day progresses. Which is why I would definitely head there first on a rainy day. I also like the fact that you can see the Glenlee aka. The Tall Ship without having to step outside, which is especially important on rainy days.
Now lets head over to Kelvingrove, which is only a 10 minute walk from Riverside;
I have a feeling that if you've heard of Kelvingrove or if you've visited in the past. You will know of some of it's most iconic pieces and exhibits. Such as the floating heads or Salvador Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross (which is currently out on loan until Summer 2018). But there's so much more to Kelvingrove.
I'm always besotted by the beautiful marble statues that you'll find on the first floor. And no matter how many times I've seen them, I still make sure to stop and appreciate the true beauty in each and every one of them.
I'll also never not been in awe of the grand halls and the epic organ. If you get there around lunchtime, you'll often get a chance to take a seat below and listen to the organ being played masterfully, all for free. Make sure to get there for when it starts, which is 1pm Monday to Saturday or 3pm on a Sunday.
One of my favourite exhibits has to be the Life gallery, which encompasses all things nature from animals to sea creatures and everything in between. I can easily spend hours wandering around that specific section. Another must-see is the Spitfire. It's just unreal to see something that grand and epic, both in terms of size and importance.
So there are some of my top rainy day activities in Glasgow.
Have you ever visited either of the museums mentioned in today's blog post? If so, what was your favourite exhibit or piece? If not, would you like to one day? And would you like to see more Glasgow based blog posts such as this and the Ultimate guide?
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